Norwich’s Historic Lutheran Churches
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The cornerstone for the first Lutheran Church, located at 169 Franklin Street in Norwich, was laid in 1869. It was known locally as the “German Lutheran Church” because worship services were conducted in German.
Twenty-five years later, in 1894, a second church, the Salem Lutheran Church, was built. It was known locally as the “Swedish Lutheran Church” because services were conducted in Swedish. The photo shows the Swedish Church on a snowy day in the early 1930s.
By the 1950s, several laypeople, encouraged by their pastors, began advocating for the merger of the German and Swedish congregations into a single, new place of worship.
On January 2, 1957, the First Evangelical Lutheran Church merged with Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church and became St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Click here to read a more complete account of history of Norwich’s Lutheran Churches.
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Salem Lutheran Church ~ c1932
German Lutheran Church
East Main Methodist Episcopal Church
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The first worship service at the East Main Street Methodist Church was held in November 1834. The building was dedicated on June 17, 1835, with a sermon by Dr. Fisk of Wesleyan University. The building, in size and convenience, far surpassed the previous accommodations of the Falls Society Methodist church at Yantic Falls.
The church was conveniently located at the “Landing” next door to William A. Buckingham’s home on Main Street. The postcard image’s point of view is facing west, and the building shown to the right of the church is the site of the present-day Buckingham Memorial. However, William A. Buckingham was a member and deacon of the Second Congregational Church. He was not a Methodist.
Click here to read a more complete account of the history of Norwich’s East Main Methodist Episcopal Church.
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East Main Methodist Episcopal Church
First Methodist Church ~ Bean Hill
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The First Methodist Church on Bean Hill was erected in 1831. The Methodist Society was commonly called “Norwich North” and “Bean Hill” because of its location. From 1796 to 1831, the Methodists met at the former Bean Hill Academy. They were the first group of Methodists in Norwich.
The Methodist Society on Bean Hill held its public services in the venerable building for many years, which had served successively and alternately as a classical academy and a free school. In this extemporized chapel, many of the early noted itinerants preached in their rounds.
Reverend Jesse Lee, Reverend Asbury, and other messengers of the church proclaimed their message in this house of worship.
Click here to read a more complete account of the history of Norwich’s First Methodist Church.
1831 First Methodist Church Bean Hill
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Overview of Norwich’s Methodist Churches
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The first public Methodist sermon was preached in Norwich at the Bean Hill Academy in 1790. By 1831, the First Methodist Church on Bean Hill had been erected, and the congregations throughout Norwich began to flourish. Norwich’s last Methodist Church, located on Washington Street, closed on June 25 of this year.
As you can see on the artwork, Methodist Churches have served the entire Norwich community, from Bean Hill to Yantic Falls to Greeneville, and of course downtown. Over the past few months, IconicNorwich.org has explored the history of these churches and has created a series of articles that tell abbreviated stories of the buildings and the Methodist believers.
IconicNorwich.org is in the process of creating articles that explore other Norwich’s historic churches. Results will be posted here over the next month or so.
Click here to read a more complete account of the history of Norwich’s Overview of Norwich Historic Churches
Norwich’s Historic Methodist Churches
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Overview of Norwich’s Baptist Churches
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
In the late 1790s, it was considered an enormous crime merely to listen to a sermon by the so-called “Separatists” because their views were seen as subversive. Besides believing baptism was only for those old enough to choose the Christian faith consciously, Baptists insisted on the separation of church and state.
Yet, those following Baptist principles have survived, developed, and flourished in Norwich. Baptist churches have served residents in downtown, on Mount Pleasant, on the West Side, and in Greeneville for more than 200 years. IconicNorwich now offers overviews of the history of many local Baptist churches.
Overview of Norwich Baptist Churches
IconicNorwich.org is in the process of creating articles that explore more of Norwich’s historic churches. Results will be posted here over the next month or so. Click the link at the end of this sentence to read a more complete account of the history of Norwich’s other denominations.
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Overview of Norwich’s Jewish Organizations
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The history of Jewish residents in Norwich dates back more than 150 years. The first published account of a Jew living in Norwich was Adolph Chamansky. He migrated from Germany and established a business on Main Street in Norwich. He advertised his clothing store in the October 30, 1851, issue of the Norwich Evening Courier. Adolph, his wife Pauline, and his brother Joseph became the precursors of a vibrant Jewish community in Norwich.
As seen in the chart shown on the right, there have been many Jewish congregations, organizations, and synagogues. They include the Congregation of Norwich, the First Hebrew Society, the Congregation Brothers of Joseph, Beth Jacob Synagogue, and several others.
IconicNorwich.org provides a historical overview and electronic links to more detailed information for these organizations. Click the link below to get started.
Overview of Norwich’s Jewish Organizations
Over the past several months, IconicNorwich.org has created 39 articles that explore the development of many of Norwich’s historic churches. The articles include Congregational, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, and various others.
Click the link below to learn about Norwich’s Historic Churches.
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1833-Present: Greeneville Congregational Church
Norwich History … It Never Gets Old
The Fourth Congregational Ecclesiastical Society was organized in Greeneville with sixteen members on January 1, 1833. The Greek-Revival style church was the first institutional building in Greeneville.
Reverend John Storrs, the congregation’s first minister, was installed on March 12, 1834. Samuel Mowry, the father of Civil War-era Norwich gunmaker James D. Mowry, was one of the church’s first deacons, serving for over 33 years.
Due to its proximity to many manufacturing concerns, such as Campbell & Hall Paper Company and the Shetucket Company, residents of Greeneville frequently relocated from one town to another. However, the church membership remained surprisingly constant. When the town had 700 inhabitants, 100 were members of this church
Click the link below to learn more about the Greeneville Congregational Church.
Greeneville Congregational Church
Over the past several months, IconicNorwich.org has published 39 articles exploring the development of many of Norwich’s historic churches. The articles include Congregational, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, and various others.
Click HERE to learn about Norwich’s Historic Churches.
Greeneville Congregational Church
143 Prospect Street ~ built in 1834